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SUMMARY:

L Brands, parent company of Victoria’s Secret, Henri Bendel and Bath & Body Works, announced that it plans to end on-call scheduling practices at all Bath & Body Works stores by October 2015.

KEY FACTS:

Bath & Body Works’ move comes five months after New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent a letter to L Brands and 12 other retailers challenging the legality of the scheduling practices.

Sister brand Victoria’s Secret has been phasing out on-call scheduling since June 2015.

“Employees deserve stable and reliable work schedules to adequately plan for childcare, transportation, and other basic needs. I commend Bath & Body Works for taking this important step.” -New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

Retailers such as Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch also are following suit; they plan to halt on-call scheduling altogether by the end of this year.

OUR PERSPECTIVE:

With on-call scheduling, store employees need to be available for all shifts, even if they’re canceled at the last minute. This leads to unpredictable schedules and erratic income.

Legislators in 10 states have proposed to guarantee workers advanced notice regarding their shift schedules. In New York, state labor laws ensure pay equal to four hours at minimum wage for hourly workers who report for a scheduled shift, even if a manager sends them home early.

In the retail industry, employee engagement is known for being low and turnover is consistently high. By refining workforce management and scheduling practices, retailers can prove to their associates that they care about their well-being and ensure they want them to continue their career within their organization.